FAMILY COLUBERID^. 49 



GENUS CALAMARIA. Bote, Wagler. 



Head small. Two frontal plates descending to form part of the orbit. One anterior and 

 one posterior orbital plate ; no loral plate. 



THE RED SNAKE. 



Calamaria amcena. 



Coluber amanus. Say, Acad. Nat. Sciences, Vol 4, p. 237. 



C. id. Haklan, Med. and Phys. Res. p. 118 



Zacholus id. Waglee. 



The Red Snake. Stoker, Mass. Rep. p. 226. 



Calamana amami. HoLBBOOK, N. Am. Herpelology, Vol.4, pi. 27. 



Characteristics. Small. Reddish brown ; beneath red. Scales smooth. Tail short, abrupt. 

 Length 6-12 inches. 



Description. Body small, cylindrical, with smooth polished elongated obscurely pentagonal 

 scales. Tail about one-seventh of the total length, abruptly attenuated to a solid corneous tip. 

 Head small, obtusely rounded ; terminal plate curving slightly on the top of the head, so as 

 to be nearly horizontal above. The first pair of plates short, broader than long ; second pair 

 rather large, oblique, the posterior outer angle reaching the eyes. Vertical plate convex, 

 rounded, sub-triangular, wide before, and angulated on the anterior middle ; the posterior 

 angle acute. Posterior plates a little convex, with a single scale between their tips. Eyes 

 with one scale behind ; one before, twice as long as the posterior one ; small plate above the 

 eye, less than half the length of the central plate. Teeth very minute. 



Color. Reddish brovm or dark slate above ; beneath bright red, or rosaceous. 



Abdominal plates, 125-135. Length, 5-0-10-0. 



Caudal plates, 25- 35. Tail, 1-0- 2-0. 



This is a beautiful little serpent, found under stones and logs. I have not met vnth it, but 

 have taken Say's description. Its present geographical limits extend from New-Hampshire to 

 Pennsylvania. 



(EXTRA-LIMITAL.) 



C. elapsoidea. (Holbrook, Vol. 4, pi. 28.) Small. Body scarlet, with 18 - 20 white rings, broadly 

 bordered on each side with black. Abdominal plates, 170 ; caudal, 38 Length 12 -0. Carolina, 

 Georgia. 



C. striatula. (Id. Vol. 4, pi. 29.) 



Fauna — Part 3. 7 



